Five reliable Outlook PST file repair tools

Outlook PST files can become corrupted -- and when that happens, work grinds to a halt. If your organization relies on Outlook, one of these tools could save the day.

Outlook is the industry standard groupware tool. Organizations depend on it for email, calendaring, tasks, contacts... it is often the heart and soul of a business. However, the file that contains the precious data for Outlook is a fragile one, and when it breaks it can be a nightmare to repair. Fortunately, plenty of tools out there can help keep the integrity of that data file intact. Which ones are the most reliable and safe to use? Which ones will bring the file back from the dead? Let's take a look at five that can effectively tackle the task.

Note: Always back up your data file before using any tool on it.

1: Built-in cleaner: Scanpst

Outlook has a built-in PST cleaner called Scanpst. It's not the tool you will use when a PST file is really broken, but it's one of the most reliable for smaller issues. I have used this tool more than any other, mostly because I know it won't completely fubar a PST file. You generally wind up having to run Scanpst more than once to get the data file completely clean. I've used it up to five times on a PST file before it will come up with zero errors. But it works.

2: Kernel Recovery for PST

Kernel Recovery for PST is the cleaner I use when the PST file is really broken. This tool is powerful and offers a number of features not found in other cleaners. One of my favorite features (although not unique) is the ability to split an overly large PST file into smaller archives. That alone makes this tool worth having. Beyond that, its ability to repair a severely broken PST file is unrivaled. You can download a demo of this tool, but you won't be able to do any repairing with it. Kernel Recovery for PST costs $49.00 (home use), $199.00 (corporate license), and $299.00 (technician license). It's worth the cost of entry.

3: Outlook PST Repair and Recovery Software

Outlook PST Repair and Recovery Software from Disk Doctors can quickly and safely recover the usual suspects from a damaged Outlook ST file: messages, folders, appointments, meeting requests, contacts, tasks, task requests, journals, and notes. This tool also supports the recovery of password-protected PST files, as well as compressed encryption and high encryption PST files. The one downfall of DD PST Repair is that it supports only Outlook 2000, 2002/XP, 2003, and 2007. A single user license for DD PST Repair costs $149.00.

4: Stellar Phoenix Outlook PST Repair

Stellar Phoenix Outlook PST Repair is an excellent tool that can repair even the most severely broken PST file. With it, you can repair corrupt PST files (Outlook 2000, 2003, 2007, and 2010) to recover emails, calendars, contacts, journals, and notes. It will also restore formatting from RTF and HTML messages, as well as repair damage from application malfunction, improper file sharing on LAN/WAN, operating system corruption, disrupted PST compaction, exceeded 2GB file size, PST file header corruption, and malicious software. Stellar Phoenix Outlook PST Repair costs $149.00 for a single license.

5: OutlookFIX Professional

OutlookFIX Professional is unique in that it will attempt to recover deleted information from the PST file. It does the usual cleanup (mail, attachments, calendar, tasks, contacts, journal, etc.) and works on most versions of Outlook (up to 2010). Of all the tools you will use, OutlookFix might well be the quickest and most user-friendly. It's not quite as powerful as Stellar or Kernel PST, but it's just as reliable. This is another PST repair tool that allows you to split the PST into multiple fragments. That means that any PST file over 2 GB can be reduced in size and cleaned up so the data can once again be used. OutlookFIX costs $179.00 for a single license.

Be ready

There are all sorts of reasons why an Outlook PST file can become corrupt. And when it happens, work stops. If you work within any size business that depends upon Outlook, chances are you will need the services of a PST repair tool. Don't get caught unaware. Have one on hand before the need arises.

Other options?

Do you have a favorite PST repair tool to add to this list? Share your recommendations with fellow TechRepublic members.

About Jack Wallen

Jack Wallen is an award-winning writer for TechRepublic and Linux.com. He’s an avid promoter of open source and the voice of The Android Expert. For more news about Jack Wallen, visit his website getjackd.net.

Full Bio

Jack Wallen is an award-winning writer for TechRepublic and Linux.com. He’s an avid promoter of open source and the voice of The Android Expert. For more news about Jack Wallen, visit his website getjackd.net.

Whenever an Outlook PST file of any format, i.e.ANSI or Unicode, crosses its predefined size limit, it becomes prone to corruption. If the files are large in size, it will cause weak performance of MS Outlook as well as lose the speed if files get bigger in size. If your Outlook PST is very large, then here I recommend PST Compress and Compact tool which gives multiple options at the time of compression and safely compresses your Outlook PST. To know more about this compression tool read the article mention below: http://datarecoveryblogger.blogspot.in/2014/03/how-to-compress-over-sized-pst-files.html

PST files come in two formats viz. ANSI code and Unicode. Microsoft Outlook blocks file loading if at any time either of the two formats PST file is seen exceeding size limit. This is done to prevent file corruption during transfer. PST file compression is one of the wisest solutions for preventing file corruption associated with large PST files. An over-sized PST file can be compressed easily by reducing PST file size and by effectively managing mailbox data. For more information visit the link mention below:

If an Outlook data file (PST) of any format, i.e. ANSI or Unicode, reaches or exceeds the size limit, changes for its corruption become high. In such situation, you need to compress the PST file by reducing its file size. Microsoft Outlook supports a built-in feature to compact a large sized .pst file without requiring any third-party application. To know about this feature read the article by using the link mention below:

This repair software scans your inaccessible PST file and saves the Mail, contacts, calendars and other important objects of your PST file into a new PST file.You can also use the technical version of software to manage your repaired PST file.You can split or compress the PST file so that the chances of corruption will be less in future.

You can repair your PST files using scanpst.exe but as it has been seen that often it fails due to its limitations so it is advised to use any efficient Third party Tool. Outlook PST Repair Tool is one of the complete solution for all PST files corruption related issues. A detailed comparison of few best Outlook PST Recovery software is available herehttp://www.outlookrepairtools.com/comparison/

Scanpst.exe definitely repair pst files but upto a certain level
as it works only on minor header corruption errors. when the PST file is
severely damaged scanost.exe or scanpst.exe does not flags any error
rather abandons to work. Where as other specialized ost conversion app
recovers all components from Offline ost file. and saves into PST file.
get more information from http://www.outlookrepairtools.com/comparison/

Scanpst.exe definitely repair pst files but upto a certain level
as it works only on minor header corruption errors. when the PST file is
severely damaged scanost.exe or scanpst.exe does not flags any error
rather abandons to work. Where as other specialized ost conversion app
recovers all components from Offline ost file. and saves into PST file.
get more information from http://www.outlookrepairtools.com/comparison/

Sometimes,
though, your luck may not be that good and your entire data file (PST)
gets so damaged or corrupted that Outlook refuses to open the file
altogether. In this type of situation, you have to repair the pst file
using tools. Here is comparison of few best pst repair tools available http://www.outlookrepairtools.com/comparison/

Sometimes, though, your luck may not be that good and your entire data file (PST) gets so damaged or corrupted that Outlook refuses to open the file altogether. In this type of situation, you have to repair the pst file using tools. Here is comparison of few best pst repair tools available http://www.outlookrepairtools.com/comparison/

Using Kernel for Outlook PST Repair Tool you can instantly repair your damaged Outlook pst file successfully. Go to http://www.pstrepair.recoveryfiles.org to download the demo tool and know more about pst recovery.